8 things You Should Know About Wine and Cheese Pairings
One of the best food combinations no one objects to is the salivating combination of wine and cheese. Each one is delicious on its own, but when they are paired together they combine to give a magical taste. Regardless of the type of cheese, there is always a matching wine for it.
Many people find the task of matching wine and cheese very difficult. Wine and Cheese pairing does take some thought, but they don't have to be complicated. Remember there is no rule book as taste is just a matter of individual preference. Getting the perfect wine and cheese combination that suite your taste is all about experimenting. Below are things you should know about pairing wine and cheese:
The Right Combination Matters
The overall result of wine and cheese pair is usually on the individual characteristics of the wine and cheese. Although there are no compulsory rules, there are few rules you should consider;
- Red wine pairs better with milder flavors and hard cheese.
- Fruit wine works best with a wide range of cheese.
- White wine matches best with stronger flavors and soft cheese.
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- For red wine: Cindy Tall Red Wine Glasses
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- For white wine: Colored Crystal Wine Glasses
What Grows Together Goes Together
It is a general rule that things from the same origin tend to combine better together with each other. Just like the growing conditions, the wine origin can impart similar tastes to a regions wine; cheese flavors are also affected by the animals grazing vegetation. If cheese and wine come from the same country or region, there is a chance they have familiar flavor and taste great when combined. Example of successful pairs includes Spanish Rioja with a Spanish Manchego, Sauvignon Blanc mixed with goat cheese, Garnacha with Manchego and also Epoisses de Bourgogne with Chardonnay.
Always Know the Taste of the Wine First
When searching for the perfect wine and cheese combination, it is best you taste the wine with one of our unique collections. So if you need a glassware that combines your wine into a single taste, Crystal Décor have you covered. Sipping the wine will help you in choosing a matching cheese except you have a particular cheese in mind. If you are planning to pair the cheese with flavors such as hard, sharp, or funky blue cheese, you can get discouraged by eating the cheese first even though they are always tempting.
Think About Harmony
When pairing, nobody wants to overshadow the flavor of one with the other; the aim is to make the best use of the characteristics of each other. Be sure that they have similar intensity and they strike a balance together duration combination. For example, the Gruyere flavor would be suppressed by a big Cabernet Sauvignon but will be perfect when paired with a Pinot Noir. The best part of pairing wine and cheese is to experiment to discover what you learn. Keep in mind while you pair, soft cheese should be combined with white wine, and hard cheese should be combined with red wine. If you choose to match by texture, chooses the wine based on the texture of the cheese.
When in Doubt of the Right Wine, Choose Champagne
Lots of experts consider champagne as the ultimate wine; it goes with anything. Champagne pairs perfectly with potato chips and also with the caviar. Choosing champagne while looking for the right wine to go with cheese will be a proper call for anyone. You can’t get a wrong combination with champagne you can only come up with a better pair.
Soft Creamy Cheese Pairs Well with Sparkling Wines
Due to the high acidity and carbonation of sparkling wine, they offer a cleansing effect to sticky cheese such as Brie, Camembert, Epoisses de Bourgogne, and Cremont.
Bold Red Wines are Incredible with Aged Cheese
As cheese lose water-content and ages, they have increased flavor due to their increased fat content. These makes them the perfect match for bold red wine because the high-tannins in the wine reduces the fat content in the cheese. Some proven combination include cheese aged for a year or more like the Grana Padano, Provolone, Gouda, Manchego, Gruyere and the likes.
Know the Types Of Cheese
Whatever your cheese preferences, you should select your cheese from the various types of cheese such as soft cheese, firm cheese, hard cheese, semi-soft cheese and fresh cheese. Here are few guidelines:
Fresh Cheese
Fresh cheese make delicious snacks to enjoy with champagne and sparkling wines. They are also enjoyable with some red wines and most white wines.
Soft Cheese
Soft cheese with a Camembert or Brie are great with fruity wines. A more matured soft cheese should be with red or white wine.
Firm Cheese
Firm cheese with medium or mild Cheddar, Friulano, Gouda, Emmental or Provolone are great with fruity red wine, or dry rose wine. More flavored firm cheese served with full reds.
Semi-soft Cheese
Semi-soft cheese such as Monterey Jack, Havarti, and Gruyere go well with light white, dry, or rose red wines.
Hard Ceese
Hard cheese like the Canadian Parmesan is an excellent combination with very dry whites, and they also combine well with the sherry.
So, if you’re looking to get the best deal on red/wine and champagne glasses to enhance the taste of your wine and cheese pairing. You can visit our store, we have all the least glassware you can imagine, and the best deals of Bohemia glassware.